Colon Cancer Recurrence

Colon cancer recurrence is a big hurdle in treating the disease completely. It is one of the prime causes of increase in the number of colon cancer-deaths worldwide and needs to be tackled carefully. Recurrence of colon cancer also results into further deterioration of health and may cause an irreversible damage to the patient's body and health.

What is colon cancer recurrence?

Colon cancer is completely treatable if detected in the early stages. Surgery is the most common form of treatment to cure the tumors in the early or developmental stages. Exposure to radiations or chemicals is the most general form of treatment to treat tumors in advanced stages. But such treatments come with innumerable side-effects and should be taken under thorough medical supervision.

Radiotherapy is a treatment in which the tumors or the malignant cells are killed by exposing them to radiations. While in chemical therapy, such malignant cells and tumors are exposed to strong chemicals. These treatments can also be taken along with Colon Cancer Surgery if the chances of elimination of tumors are high.

When a victim is exposed to such harmful chemicals or radiations, the healthy vital cells present around the infected areas are also affected and develop a tendency to behave abnormally if they fall short of vital resources like blood and oxygen. Such cells are more prone to cancerous attack in future.

If the cancer treatment is not taken in an appropriate way or any of the tumors is missed during detection and diagnosis, the chances of redevelopment of cancerous cells arise. Such improperly treated malignant cells attack the weak cells affected by cancer treatment in the past and force them to behave abnormally.

These infected cells start to grow and multiply abnormally and the process of recurrence of colon cancer begins. The cells usually attack the areas previously treated for colon cancer and try to spread to other vital areas through metastasis. Recurrence of colon cancer is more dangerous as compared to its occurrence for the first time as the victim's body may not be capable of sustaining the intense treatment of colon cancer for the second time.

Usually, the treatment pattern to be adopted for recurrence of colon cancer has to be very different from the one followed for treating it for the first time. Surgery is not the best option for patients suffering from redevelopment of cancerous cells in the colon as the cells may have infected many other areas like the bowel and rectum simultaneously.

Early signs of colon cancer recurrence

Symptoms of the regeneration of cancerous cells in the colon are quite similar to the ones that are detected in a person suffering from the disease for the first time. Pains in the areas near the colon are the most basic early sign of regeneration of cancerous cells in the colon. Some may also experience severe stomach pains and problems in digestion of food. Other important sign of regeneration of polyps in the colon is the passage of blood through stools.

Change in the bowel habits is also an early sign of colon cancer and should be taken very seriously. This may directly impact the overall digestive system and cause severe health complications if the cancerous cells metastasize to abdominal areas. Abdominal pains should be consulted with a physician and a thorough diagnosis of abdomen must be done if the pains do not cure by usual medication.
Sudden loss of weight and considerable loss of appetite is an early warning of the generation of polyps in the colon. Fatigue, problems in swallowing food, severe pains during passage of stools, anemia and diarrhea are some of the basic signs to be considered to confirm the regeneration of cancer cells in the colon.

Risk factors for colon cancer recurrence

Presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the body can be a major disadvantage and put a person at considerably higher risk of suffering from regeneration of cancer cells in the colon. Smoking is not directly related to cancerous development in the colon but damages vital body cells and tissues leading to considerable weakness in the body immune system. Strong immune system is a must to fight regeneration of cancer cells and curb them right in the pre-cancerous or developmental stages.

Excess consumption of alcohol, intake of carcinogenic substances and chewing tobacco should be strictly avoided as it damages the body's immune system badly and makes a person more susceptible to cancerous infection. Balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins and nutrients is highly advantageous in curbing cancerous growth and keeping the body cells and tissues healthy and active. Vegetables and fruits along with salads should be consumed as a part of regular diet. Fat-rich and oily food should be avoided. Excess consumption of red meat may also create problems in the digestive system and should be avoided.

Colon cancer recurrence can be avoided with regular medical checkup and proper dietary patterns. Detection of even the slightest of symptoms should be consulted with a physician immediately. Symptoms of the colon cancer are quite common with many other non-cancerous disorders and should be thoroughly diagnosed to confirm regeneration of polyps in the colon or the adjacent areas.